Shooter convicted

Jason Ferguson

Published: Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

Kachina McAlexander enters the Custer County Courthouse during an earlier court proceeding in her case. [Photo courtesy of KOTA-TV]

After listening to three days of testimony about tasers, handguns and criminal intent, a Custer County jury needed only four hours to convict Kachina McAlexander, 32, of Denver, Colo., on all charges related to a March 24, 2009, shooting at the Super 8 Motel in Custer.

McAlexander, a former police officer, hung and shook her head after the verdict was read, while some of her supporters in the audience began to cry.

“Iâï¿½ï¿½don’t know how you people can live with yourselves,”âï¿½ï¿½one said as she stormed out of the courtroom.

McAlexander was convicted on three counts of aggravated assault—attempting to cause bodily injury to another person with a dangerous weapon. Because the assault was on police officers, the charges are a Class 2 Felony. She was also convicted on one count of reckless discharge of a firearm, a class one misdemeanor.

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Current Comments

What a miscarriage of justice - Kachina never stood a chance - this trial should never have taken place in Custer. Talk about media helping to destroy someone - how could she receive a fair trial from the very start with coverage of this story in a small town like Custer? This trial was totally unjust and she was railroaded! She needs to appeal!! This was so terribly mishandled and Miss McAlexander's lawyer did her no favors!

Samson O\'ReillyJanuary 25th, 2010 at 15:00pm

Custer = Cluster. It's sad to hear that this is the second incident of welfare check, in the land of Custer in 2009, that turned into a conviction against the initial victim. The FBI needs to investigate the police/sheriff department. Obviously they need to implement better training practices concerning critical incidents.

JanFebruary 6th, 2010 at 11:38am

Samson - you have got to be kidding me.... The reason why it is called "welfare check" is that someone close to the individual is concerned for their..... WELFARE!!! Meaning they are a potential threat to themselves... Not to mention.. both individuals had weapons!!! I for one are thankful to the Sheriff's department. No one is dead so apparently they do know how to defuse the situation!

CusteriteFebruary 14th, 2010 at 09:28am

I am amazed at some of these previous comments. Kachina fired multiple gunshots at law enforcement officers, and we are supposed to feel sorry for her? It's time she pulled up her big girl pants and took responsibility for her potentially lethal actions.

DREMarch 29th, 2010 at 12:55pm

I agree that it is good noone was killed as a result of this "welfare check", however it IS important that deputies continue to train for these kinds of situations. Without proper policies and training, the county is open to huge liability and the potential loss of life to person(s) responding to these types of incidents.

KachinaJune 22nd, 2013 at 14:34pm

If I had intentionally shot at any law enforcement officers I would not have missed 10 times from 3 feet away! Also if I intentionally raised my department issued firearm in front of three officers with guns in their hands I would be DEAD! Shame on you custer jury civillians for convicting an innocent person who served on the Denver Police Dept for over 10 years. Shame on you Derek Booker who committed perjury during my trial and lied about everything just to cover your own butt when you knew you made a mistake. I'm glad they reprimanded you and took you off of the streets only for you to quit and cause problems in another state for other innocent people to be put in harms way. For all those involved SHAME on you for not speaking the TRUTH. Hopefully one day the other two officers involved will come forward and admit I was never a threat to them.

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